Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Association Between Lipid Serum and Semen Parameters: a Systematic Review

  • Review
  • Published:
Reproductive Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Increased lipid levels sometimes not only affect sexual function but also are considered to harm semen quality. It is often a suspicion that elevated lipids are a factor in infertility. We conduct a systematic review. Articles that met the criteria were identified according to The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of recommendations in the PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCO, Web of Science Wiley Online, Springer Link, Scopus, and Science Direct databases with no time restriction for publication. Seven studies are eligible for qualitative analysis from nine studies that have the potential to be assessed. These studies measure the correlation of serum lipids (VLDL, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, total cholesterol, free cholesterol, phospholipids, free fatty acids) with semen parameters (concentration, motility, morphology, DNA fragmentation index). Although not all studies consistently report that lipids impact semen quality, this review suspects that lipids have a significant impact on sperm quality. This study implies that it is necessary to maintain lipid levels to maintain sperm quality and quality of life. However, further investigation with an observational cohort study design needs to be carried out to assess the effect of lipids on semen quality more precisely for the promotion of reproductive health care.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

There is no data support this article.

Code Availability

No code was used nor generated in this study.

References

  1. Boivin J, Bunting L, Collins JA, Nygren KG. International estimates of infertility prevalence and treatment-seeking: potential need and demand for infertility medical care. Hum Reprod. 2007;22:1506–12. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dem046.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Glazer CH, Bonde JP, Eisenberg ML, et al. Male infertility and risk of nonmalignant chronic diseases: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence. Semin Reprod Med. 2017;35:282–90. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1603568.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Eisenberg ML, Li S, Brooks JD, et al. Increased risk of cancer in infertile men: analysis of U.S. claims data. J Urol. 2015;193:1596–601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2014.11.080.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Latif T, Kold Jensen T, Mehlsen J, et al. Semen quality as a predictor of subsequent morbidity: a Danish cohort study of 4,712 men with long-term follow-up. Am J Epidemiol. 2017;186:910–7. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwx067.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Boeri L, Capogrosso P, Ventimiglia E, et al. Undiagnosed prediabetes is highly prevalent in primary infertile men - results from a cross-sectional study. BJU Int. 2019;123:1070–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.14558.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Glazer CH, Bonde JP, Giwercman A, et al. Risk of diabetes according to male factor infertility: a register-based cohort study. Hum Reprod. 2017;32:1474–81. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dex097.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Salonia A, Matloob R, Gallina A, et al. Are infertile men less healthy than fertile men? Results of a prospective case-control survey. Eur Urol. 2009;56:1025–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2009.03.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Del Giudice F, Kasman AM, Ferro M, et al. Clinical correlation among male infertility and overall male health: a systematic review of the literature. Investig Clin Urol. 2020;61:355–71. https://doi.org/10.4111/icu.2020.61.4.355.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Groos S, Krause W, Mueller UO. Men with subnormal sperm counts live shorter lives. Soc Biol. 2006;53:46–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/19485565.2006.9989116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Eisenberg ML, Li S, Behr B, et al. Semen quality, infertility and mortality in the USA. Hum Reprod. 2014;29:1567–74. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deu106.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Glazer CH, Eisenberg ML, Tøttenborg SS, et al. Male factor infertility and risk of death: a nationwide record-linkage study. Hum Reprod. 2019;34:2266–73. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dez189.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Tournaye H, Krausz C, Oates RD. Novel concepts in the aetiology of male reproductive impairment. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2017;5:544–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30040-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Belloc S, Cohen-Bacrie M, Amar E, et al. High body mass index has a deleterious effect on semen parameters except morphology: results from a large cohort study. Fertil Steril. 2014;102:1268–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.07.1212.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tsao C-W, Liu C-Y, Chou Y-C, et al. Exploration of the association between obesity and semen quality in a 7630 male population. PLoS ONE. 2015;10: e0119458. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0119458.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Attaman JA, Toth TL, Furtado J, et al. Dietary fat and semen quality among men attending a fertility clinic. Hum Reprod. 2012;27:1466–74. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/des065.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Mendiola J, Torres-Cantero AM, Moreno-Grau JM, et al. Food intake and its relationship with semen quality: a case-control study. Fertil Steril. 2009;91:812–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.01.020.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Liu C-Y, Chou Y-C, Chao JC-J, et al. The association between dietary patterns and semen quality in a general asian population of 7282 males. PLoS ONE. 2015;10: e0134224. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0134224.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Miller WL, Auchus RJ. The molecular biology, biochemistry, and physiology of human steroidogenesis and its disorders. Endocr Rev. 2011;32:81–151. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2010-0013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Gwynne JT, Strauss JF 3rd. The role of lipoproteins in steroidogenesis and cholesterol metabolism in steroidogenic glands. Endocr Rev. 1982;3:299–329. https://doi.org/10.1210/edrv-3-3-299.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Xu Q, Lin H-Y, Yeh S-D, et al. Infertility with defective spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in male mice lacking androgen receptor in Leydig cells. Endocrine. 2007;32:96–106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-007-9015-0.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rulli SB, Ahtiainen P, Mäkelä S, et al. Elevated steroidogenesis, defective reproductive organs, and infertility in transgenic male mice overexpressing human chorionic gonadotropin. Endocrinology. 2003;144:4980–90. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2003-0403.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Whitfield M, Pollet-Villard X, Levy R, et al. Posttesticular sperm maturation, infertility, and hypercholesterolemia. Asian J Androl. 2015;17:742–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/1008-682X.155536.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Gupta RS, Dixit VP. Effect of dietary cholesterol on spermatogenesis. Z Ernahrungswiss. 1988;27:236–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02019512.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Purohit A, Daradka HM. Effect of mild hyperlipidaemia on testicular cell population dynamics in albino rats. Indian J Exp Biol. 1999;37:396–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sugkraroek P, Kates M, Leader A, Tanphaichitr N. Levels of cholesterol and phospholipids in freshly ejaculated sperm and Percoll-gradient-pelletted sperm from fertile and unexplained infertile men. Fertil Steril. 1991;55:820–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Meseguer M, Garrido N, Martínez-Conejero JA, et al. Role of cholesterol, calcium, and mitochondrial activity in the susceptibility for cryodamage after a cycle of freezing and thawing. Fertil Steril. 2004;81:588–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.09.035.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021; 372. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71.

  28. Wells GA, O’Connell D, Peterson J, Welch V, Losos M, Tugwell P, Shea B. Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. Ottawa Hosp Res Institute. 2014; 2–4.

  29. Schisterman EF, Mumford SL, Chen Z, et al. Lipid concentrations and semen quality: the LIFE study. Andrology. 2014;2:408–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2047-2927.2014.00198.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Hagiuda J, Ishikawa H, Furuuchi T, et al. Relationship between dyslipidaemia and semen quality and serum sex hormone levels: an infertility study of 167 Japanese patients. Andrologia. 2014;46:131–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12057.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Liu C-Y, Chou Y-C, Lin S-H, et al. Serum lipid profiles are associated with semen quality. Asian J Androl. 2017;19:633–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/1008-682X.195240.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Dupont C, Faure C, Daoud F, et al. Metabolic syndrome and smoking are independent risk factors of male idiopathic infertility. Basic Clin Androl. 2019;29:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12610-019-0090-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Osadchuk L, Tipisova E, Kleshchev M, et al. Study of semen quality, reproductive hormone levels, and lipid levels in men from Arkhangelsk, a city in North of European Russia. Am J Mens Health. 2020;14:1557988320939714. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988320939714.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Jin-Chun L, Jing J, Yao Q, et al. Relationship between lipids levels of serum and seminal plasma and semen parameters in 631 Chinese subfertile men. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0146304. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0146304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Michalakis K, Mintziori G, Kaprara A, et al. The complex interaction between obesity, metabolic syndrome and reproductive axis: a narrative review. Metabolism. 2013;62:457–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2012.08.012.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Leisegang K, Udodong A, Bouic PJD, Henkel RR. Effect of the metabolic syndrome on male reproductive function: a case-controlled pilot study. Andrologia. 2014;46:167–76. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12060.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Ventimiglia E, Capogrosso P, Colicchia M, et al. Metabolic syndrome in white European men presenting for primary couple’s infertility: investigation of the clinical and reproductive burden. Andrology. 2016;4:944–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12232.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Calonge RN. Lipid dysregulation in seminal and follicular fluids could be related with male and female infertility. Endocrinol Int J. 2018;6:65–71. https://doi.org/10.15406/emij.2018.06.00156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Feingold KR. Obesity and dyslipidemia. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al (eds). South Dartmouth (MA); 2000.

  40. Foucaut A-M, Faure C, Julia C, et al. Sedentary behavior, physical inactivity and body composition in relation to idiopathic infertility among men and women. PLoS ONE. 2019;14: e0210770. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210770.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Pons-Rejraji H, Brugnon F, Sion B, et al. Evaluation of atorvastatin efficacy and toxicity on spermatozoa, accessory glands and gonadal hormones of healthy men: a pilot prospective clinical trial. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2014;12:65. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-12-65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Gianfrilli D, Ferlin A, Isidori AM, et al. Risk behaviours and alcohol in adolescence are negatively associated with testicular volume: results from the Amico-Andrologo survey. Andrology. 2019;7:769–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12659.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Ferlin A, Garolla A, Ghezzi M, et al. Sperm count and hypogonadism as markers of general male health. Eur Urol Focus. 2021;7:205–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euf.2019.08.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. van Rossum CTM, Hoebee B, van Baak MA, et al. Genetic variation in the leptin receptor gene, leptin, and weight gain in young Dutch adults. Obes Res. 2003;11:377–86. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2003.51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Kwon O, Kim KW, Kim M-S. Leptin signalling pathways in hypothalamic neurons. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2016;73:1457–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-016-2133-1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Morelli A, Sarchielli E, Comeglio P, et al. Metabolic syndrome induces inflammation and impairs gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus in rabbits. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2014;382:107–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2013.09.017.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Kim ED, McCullough A, Kaminetsky J. Oral enclomiphene citrate raises testosterone and preserves sperm counts in obese hypogonadal men, unlike topical testosterone: restoration instead of replacement. BJU Int. 2016;117:677–85. https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.13337.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Novida H, Murtiwi S, Tjokroprawiro A, et al. Po317 are there any correlations between ratio Ldl-C/Hdl-C and lipoprotein(a) with insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes patients with abdominal obesity? Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2014;106:S208–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-8227(14)70611-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Divall SA, Williams TR, Carver SE, et al. Divergent roles of growth factors in the GnRH regulation of puberty in mice. J Clin Invest. 2010;120:2900–9. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI41069.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Qiu X, Dowling AR, Marino JS, et al. Delayed puberty but normal fertility in mice with selective deletion of insulin receptors from Kiss1 cells. Endocrinology. 2013;154:1337–48. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2012-2056.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. Brüning JC, Gautam D, Burks DJ, et al. Role of brain insulin receptor in control of body weight and reproduction. Science. 2000;289:2122–5. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.289.5487.2122.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Sheriff DS. The lipid composition of human testis in patients with bilateral varicocele as cause of infertility. Andrologia. 1982;14:150–3. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0272.1982.tb03117.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Keber R, Rozman D, Horvat S. Sterols in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. J Lipid Res. 2013;54:20–33. https://doi.org/10.1194/jlr.R032326.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Scolari S, Müller K, Bittman R, et al. Interaction of mammalian seminal plasma protein PDC-109 with cholesterol: implications for a putative CRAC domain. Biochemistry. 2010;49:9027–31. https://doi.org/10.1021/bi101257c.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Huacuja L, Delgado NM, Calzada L, et al. Exchange of lipids between spermatozoa and seminal plasma in normal and pathological human semen. Arch Androl. 1981;7:343–9. https://doi.org/10.3109/01485018108999329.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Selvaraj S, Aruldhas MM, Govindarajulu P. Normospermic, oligospermic and azoospermic men. 1957.

  57. Thomson LK, Fleming SD, Aitken RJ, et al. Cryopreservation-induced human sperm DNA damage is predominantly mediated by oxidative stress rather than apoptosis. Hum Reprod. 2009;24:2061–70. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dep214.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Alvarez JG, Storey BT. Differential incorporation of fatty acids into and peroxidative loss of fatty acids from phospholipids of human spermatozoa. Mol Reprod Dev. 1995;42:334–46. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.1080420311.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Aitken RJ, Roman SD. Antioxidant systems and oxidative stress in the testes. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;636:154–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09597-4_9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Sanocka D, Kurpisz M. Reactive oxygen species and sperm cells. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2004;2:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-2-12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. La Vignera S, Condorelli RA, Vicari E, Calogero AE. Statins and erectile dysfunction: a critical summary of current evidence. J Androl. 2012;33:552–8. https://doi.org/10.2164/jandrol.111.015230.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Keihani S, Martin C, Craig JR, et al. Semen parameters are unaffected by statin use in men evaluated for infertility. Andrologia. 2018;50:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12995.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Pramudya D, Tjokroprawiro A, Murtiwi S, et al. Po335 Correlation Between Lipid Profiles and Body Mass Index in Patients With Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2014;106:S219. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-8227(14)70629-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andrology Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia

    Cennikon Pakpahan, Andri Rezano, Ria Margiana, Bella Amanda & Agustinus Agustinus

  2. Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Jl. Mayjen Prof. Dr. Moestopo 47, Surabaya, 60131, Indonesia

    Cennikon Pakpahan, Bella Amanda & Agustinus Agustinus

  3. Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia

    Andri Rezano

  4. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Ria Margiana

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

    Darmadi Darmadi

Authors
  1. Cennikon Pakpahan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andri Rezano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ria Margiana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bella Amanda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Agustinus Agustinus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Darmadi Darmadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

CP: conceptualizing a systematic review study; CP and BA: perform study searches in database; CP and BA: selecting and extracting data from each eligible study; RM, AR, and AA: validate the results of the selection and extraction of data that has been collected; CP, AR, and RM: wrote the manuscript; AA and DD: reviewing the manuscript; and all authors: finalized the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cennikon Pakpahan.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval

This study did not involve human participants, their data or biological material, and therefore no ethics approval was needed.

Consent to Participate

This study did not involve human participants, their data or biological material, and therefore no consent to participate was needed.

Consent for Publication

This study did not involve human participants, their data or biological material, and therefore no consent to publication was needed.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pakpahan, C., Rezano, A., Margiana, R. et al. The Association Between Lipid Serum and Semen Parameters: a Systematic Review. Reprod. Sci. 30, 761–771 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-022-01040-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-022-01040-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation